From The Pit At 5am

[[old] arakawa]

<!--QuoteBegin-george nz+Oct 14 2005, 03:30 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(george nz @ Oct 14 2005, 03:30 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-arakawa+Oct 15 2005, 04:29 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arakawa @ Oct 15 2005, 04:29 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I don't mean to preach, but it's basically a matter of making your choices. Would you rather spend the $850 plus shipping on gym memberships  and hope that an/the erg is free, or row at home?[right] </td></tr></table><br />My current membership cost me a $1000 for 3 years, which still has till next march to run (and I should be able to repeat). The gym has 6 ergs, never had to wait, and they are in reasonable condition. The gym is 5 minutes walk from home, is friendly without being overly social, large, and fully equpped with free weights and machines (hence lots of choices for cross training). For that $1000 I could not even get a 2nd hand erg in good condition here and I have looked.<br /><br />The option that you propose is not as clear cut as it sounds [right] </td></tr></table><br />I just now realized that you must not be talking about US$ (stinkin' Americans think the world revolves around them...).<br /><br />Anyway, new C2s are US$850, which works out to about NZ$1,220 at today's exchange rates. I see that <a href='http://www.concept2.co.nz/acatalog/Onli ... ors_2.html' target='_blank'>they cost twice that in New Zealand</a>.<br /><br />As for the availability of free weights and machines at the gym that are not included in the purchase price of an erg, I'm going to invoke one of my favorite sayings - there's no such thing as a free lunch.